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| Dole Middle School principal Myron Monte, a homesteader in Kalāwahine in Makiki, won the fifth annual Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award and $25,000. - Photo: Lisa Asato |
Homesteader Myron Monte lauded for excellence in education
He aupuni palapala ko'u
Even with all the lessons that Myron Monte has taught over his decades in Hawai'i classrooms, the award-winning Dole Middle School principal attributes the values that guide to his parents and the community of Kalāwahine Homestead, in Makiki, O'ahu. “Kalāwahine is a source of many values that I hold to be true to this day,” Monte said.
Monte has led a successful career in education. In his third year teaching at Kalani High School in Hawai'i Kai, O'ahu, he was named an outstanding young educator by the Hawai'i Kai Jaycees. Later, he became the Hawaiiana teacher there as one of only two Hawaiian teachers at Kalani. “My students quickly learned that the ancient Hawaiian was a hard worker and very intelligent. My students understood that Hawaiians were not lazy,” he said.
Later, Monte became a vice principal at Farrington High School in Kalihi, O'ahu. “The school was in turmoil with many incidents of student violence,” he said. By the time he left Farrington, the school had a better culture of achievement and Monte had won the Hawai'i State Assistant Principal award.
Monte, headed into his sixth year as principal at Dole Middle, says that “Dole students are moving forward. When individuals find the work too hard, we circle those individuals and support them. We preach and demonstrate on a daily basis 'aloha kekahi i kekahi,' ” he said. No Child Left Behind benchmarks have been rising every year. “Our 'culture of achievement' has caused our students to be focused, capable and confident that they can do the work and gain proficiency,” Monte said.
In May, Monte's skill at directing Dole Middle was recognized when he was awarded the Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award. He doesn't take all the credit for the achievements, though. “Dole has developed a synergy with all people, teachers, student, parents, classified staff, custodians and the community working together to achieve these common goals,” Monte said.
The award comes with a $25,000 prize, $15,000 of which is to go toward a project of the awardee's choice. At Dole, “the prize will be used to promote health and wellness for students and adults on campus,” Monte said. Projects include updating the health center's equipment, developing nutrition programs, developing fitness programs, and offering scholarships to families that cannot afford to send children to diabetes and asthma camps.
The secret to Monte's success? “A deep and abiding belief that everyone wants to do good. I have high tolerance for individuals who make mistakes while trying to move forward with their lives.”
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